Multiple-unit door-control mechanism



May 12, 1925. K5370 2 42 F. HEDLEY ET AL.

MULTIPLE UNIT DOOR CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 30, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 12, 1925. 1,537,442 F. HEDLEY ET AL MULTIPLE UNIT DOOR CONTROL MECHANISM I Filed S81. 30, 1919 2 Sheets-Shet 2 a em/222724 4 WM}. L

?atentecl May 12, 1925.

UNITED STATES V ifit-Z PATENT OFFECE.

FRANK HEDLEY, OF YONKERS, AND JAMES S. DOYLE, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK.

MULTIPLE-UNIT DOOR-CONTROL MECHANISM.

Application filed September 30, 1919. Serial No. 327,577.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK HEDLEY and learns S. DOYLE, both citizens of the United States, and residents, respectively, of Yonkers and Mount Vernon, county of lVestchester, State of New York, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Multiple-Unit Door-Control Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrical controlling means for simultaneously controlling the opening and closing movements of the doors of a train of cars.

The object of the invention is to provide means on a station platform for controlling the opening and closing movements of all of the doors on a train of cars.

A. further object of the invention is to provide means on a station platform for simultaneously opening or closing all of the doors on a train of cars.

A further object of the invention is to provide means on a station platform for selectively opening and closing all of the doors on a train of cars.

Further objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location, and relative arrangement of parts, and the wiring circuits employed in connection therewith, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth as shown by the accompanying drawings and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the contacting means employed in accordance with our invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the wiring diagram shown in connection with a single car.

The same part is designated by the same reference numeral wherever the same occurs throughout the several views.

It is among the purposes of our present invention to provide equipment for use in connection with electrically propelled cars which will permit selective or simultaneous operation of the doors of the cars from a single controlling station on the station plat form. The advantages of such a system will be apparent when it is taken into consideration that at the present time where a train of cars is employed a conductor or other attendant is required toopen and close the doors of each car, or at the best, one conductor or attendant is required for each two cars. WVith the arrangement of our invention it will be observed that the necessity of an attendant on the cars themselves to open and close thedoors thereof is com.- pletely eliminated so that but one attendant is required, and that attendant is stationed at the station for the elevated, subway or surface car station where the train or car in its normal travel stops to discharge and take on passengers. p 1

Referring to the drawings, we show diagrammatically the system embodying our invention and the diagrammatic relative position of the respective parts required on each car and on the station platform to accomplish the purposes of our invention. In Fig. 1 we show the station, in this instance in the nature of a platform indicated by reference numeral 1, alongside of which are located the tracks 2-, on which the car or trains run. The car is diagrammatically illustrated at 8, and each car is provided with four contact shoes 4, 5, 6 and 7 which shoes are arranged two on each side of the car, for example, shoes 4 and 5 are on one side of the car, and shoes 6 and 7 are on the opposite side of the car. Two sets of shoes are employed in the form selected for illustrating our invention to provide for the control of the doors on opposite sides of the car, but it will be readily apparent that where the doors of but one side of the car or cars are to be controlled one set of shoes may be dispensed with. The shoes 4 and 6 are connected to each opening magnet 8, which controls the fluid pressure operated motor, which in turn controls the door in theusual well known manner whereby when the magnet is energized fluid pressure is admitted to the motor to open the door. This arrangement of electrically controlled pneumatic door operated motors is well known and has been in use for a number of years and forms no part of our present invention which is directed to the control of the mag net itself. In the'form shown for illustrative purposes a car having six doors is illustrated, one at each end of the car and one in the middle, on both sides thereof, and for this reason we have illustrated diagrammatically three magnet valves 8 on one side of the car and three magnet valves 8 on the opposite side of thecar, the energization of which effects the opening movement of the doors. Likewise, shoes 5 and 7 are con nected to each closing magnet valve 9, which, when energized, initiates the closing movement of the pneumatic motor andits door. Suitable switches diagrammatically illustrated at 10 may be inserted in the circuit. of each of the opening magnet valves 8 to enable the car or train of cars to pass by a station without having the doors of the train or car opened when it is desired or necessary for this to be done. This is accomplished by manually, or otherwise, opening the switches 10, so that no current will be supplied to the opening magnet valves. lVe also provide a circuit to ground through suitable resistance indicated at 11 from the shoes 4; and 6 to allow a bypath for the shoe circuit when the switch 10 is opened. The respective shoes 4:, 5, and 6. 7 are suitably carried bv the car, preferably to depend therefrom towards the tracks and are out of longitudinal alignment with each other to enable the same to come in sliding contact with contact strips or rails 12 and 13 suitably positioned on the tracks, that is, between, alongside of, or adjacent the re spective track rails 2, the contact rails 12 being positioned to come in contact with the shoes 5 and 7 andthe contact rails 13 being positioned to come in contact with the shoes 4 and 6. On the station platform is provided a source of electrical energy indi cated at 20, one terminal of which may be grounded as at 21, the other terminal of which is connected through wire 22 to a manually or otherwise controlled multiple switch 23. The multiple switch 23 when closed establishes circuit connection between the source 20 and the car wire 24, which car wire 24 is in electrical connection with the closing contact rail 12, that is, the contact rail which contacts with the shoe 5 which controls the closing magnets 9. here a number of cars are employed to make up the completed train a separate wire 24 is employed, one for each car, each of which wiresis connected to the closing contact rail 12 at that particular station, and in that in stance, of course, the switch is provided with as many contacts as there are wires 24. To secure the selective operation of the doors of any particular car I provide a manually controlled switch 25, one terminal of which is connected to the current source 20. In the form shown the switch 25 is a rotary switch and controls a number of contacts 26, each of which contacts is electrically connected to one of the wires 2% so that each of the contacts will control independently of the multiple switch 23 the closing magnets of one car. Thus it will be ob served that the doors on any one car may at will be closed or they may be closed in succession by means of the; switch 25 in addition to the simultaneous closure eiiected by means of the multiple switch 23. The control of the opening movements of the door through the magnet valves 8 may be effected in the same manner as the closing, that is, by either selective control or by simultaneous control, by means of the selective switch or multiple switch 29. In this arrangement (see Fig. 3) electrical connection is established between contact rail 18 and the terminals 27 through wires 28 controlled by the rotary switch 25 or multiple switch 29 in the manner hereinbefore described, it being understood that there is provided one wire 28 and terminal27 for each car in the train where a train of cars is operated. It will further be understood that where the multiple switch 29 for con trolling the door opening movement is employed the mere closing of the multiple switch 29 results in energizing the door opening magnets. .The operation of the system is believed'to be apparent from the foregoing. As the car or train of cars comes to rest the multiple switch 29 is closed, it it is desiredto simultaneously open all of the doors, or the selective switch 25 is operated to open the doors of any one or more cars if it is not desired to open the doors of all of the cars. Current then passes from the source 20, through the wire 28' to the contact rail 13, shoe 6, (or 4), switch 10, through opening magnets 8 to ground, thus opening all of. the doors desired. To close the doors on any car the closing contact rail 12 for this car, and consequently its shoe 5 (or 7) and magnets 9 are energized through the selective switch 25 where selective control is desired or through the multiple switch 23 where simultaneous operation is desired.

Many modifications and changes in details will readily occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention, and we desire to have the foregoing description and the illustrations accompanying the same tov be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than in a limiting sense. Itwill be apparent that the element of danger through high power transmission is not encountered 'due tothe fact that relatively weak current is employed and to the further fact that the contact rails 12 and 13 at no time have current therein except when a train or car is in the station.

Further, it is apparent, as illustrated, that the control may be effected on. each car from opposite sides of the same, that is, to permit a car to come into a station on either side of the same, and while we have illustrated such an arrangement, we do not desire to be limited or restricted thereto, but having now set forth the objects and nature of our invention, and having diagrammatisally shown and described a stmcture em bodying the principles thereof, What We claim as new'and useful and of our own invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In a door control system for cars, the combination with a train of cars and door operation control devices carried by each car of the train, of shoes carried by each of said cars, circuits connecting said shoes with said devices, and means for supplying current simultaneously to all of said devices on all cars for initiating movement of the doors thereof.

2. In a door control system for cars, the

combination with a tra n of cars an 1. 1 operation control devices carried by each car oi? the train, of shoes carried by each of said cars, circuits connecting said shoes with said devices, and means for selectively supplying current to all of the said devices on any car of the train for initiating the movement of the doors thereof into open or closed position.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands on this 24th day of September A. D., 1919.

FRANK HEDLEY. JAMES S. DOYLE. 

